Sunday, April 5, 2009

After our daughter Katy was married I asked her what she wanted to do with her wedding dress. Save it? Sell it? Give it to somebody? Preserve it? She decided that she didn't want to preserve it but would like to find something special to do with the dress other than keep it to hand down to a possible daughter some day.

This is a little closer look at the dress, but the detail just doesn't show up. After much thinking, Katy finally decided she would like to someday make a christening gown for their first child out of the dress. Obviously to be used by any other children that came along. So I saved the dress for such a time. Three years later, she became pregnant with twins! When we found out they were both girls we knew that we would need to get two dresses out of the gown. We talked with a seamstress at our church to make the dresses, however due to a injury to her wrist she was not going to be able to sew. My son-in-laws grandmother was asked and accepted the opportunity to make these gowns. She said it was really hard to cut into the wedding gown at first and she was a bit nervous because she hadn't made anything for a long while.

Katy picked a simple pattern because she wanted something plain, that would show the beading and embroidery of the material.

The two little gowns could not have been any sweeter.

Here's a close up of the material.

Even the little underslips are pretty. What a sweet and meaningful metamorphosis this was. I just love that these were made for the girls by their great-grandmother - what a lovely tradition and heirloom.

31 comments:

What a wonderful thing to do with a wedding dress. The little christening gowns will be passed down for centuries. They are just simply stunning. I think this is a precious remake of a wedding dress. Thanks so much for sharing. Hugs, Marty

How sweet! I love the idea. I thought about doing that with my wedding dress, I have two girls too. But they both wore MY christening gown instead! My mom was great at preserving things from my childhood. Love those dresses Martha! ~Kim

What a treasure! We have twin grandies, too, and they had to wear a christening gown from each side of the family. The one on our side has been worn by 4 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren! Anyway, your gowns will be a wonderful tradition! Linda

Now girl this have to be once of the most beautiful and special reuse of a weding gown I have ever seen..I just love this and what beautiful details on the gowns..just PRICELESS...thanks so much for sharing..hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

These are truly a wonderful way to create a memory! Right now my Mom is in the process of making my grand daughter's Christening gown out of my daughter's confirmation dress. So baby Emma will wear a dress that was her Aunt Annie's at one time.

Ohhh my goodness...this just has got to be the best idea ever!!! I just can't think of a sweeter way to preserve a wedding dress than to have it made into christening gowns...the meaning, the treasure is so precious! Just to be able to say, that my babies were christened in the same gown that their mama wore for her wedding!!! And...the christening gowns turned out fabulous! Now adding another sweet and precious element...the fact, that the grandmother made them!!! What a grand idea!!!

That is one fantastic idea. I wish I would have thought about that a few years age so my daughters could have done that. Unfortunatley they are both through having children but I will pass this idea on to some of my friends.Thanks for sharing.Connie

I have never seen a more beautiful treasure made from a wedding dress in all my life...oh how precious..what started out as a symbol of love & a new life together....lives on as it dresses the precious proof of that love for generations to come...ohhh my word that is priceless!

beautiful, she did a fantastic job! this is what i had planned for my dress until it accidently went to the garbage, well that is what we think anyway as it disappeared. What a beautiful keepsakehugsjanet

About Me

I am a wife of 35 years, mother of two grown children. and grandmother to 4 adorable grandgirls. I love crafting, tablescaping, decorating -- but am probably not terribly talented at any of these. That doesn't stop me however. I'm so honored that anyone chooses to visit me -- I hope you find this blogspot to be a welcoming spot to visit -- come on in and stay awhile -- let's have a nice chat.